EZFILTER(8,C) AIX Commands Reference EZFILTER(8,C) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ezfilter PURPOSE Create customized update media from standard PTF diskette sets. SYNTAX +-------------------+ +------------------------+ ezfilter ---| |-----| |----> +- -d input_device -+ +- -s storage_directory -+ +--------------------+ +-----------+ >---| |-----| |-----| +- -o output_device -+ ^ +--- FSU ---+ | | | +-----------------+ DESCRIPTION ezfilter is part of the EZ utilities package which is used to assist in the distribution of AIX to other machines. The EZ utilities package is designed to aid in the propagation of a master system to a target machine. The use of these utilities is based upon the assumption that the master system will be fully installed, configured, and then cloned. The purpose of the EZ utilities is to make this cloning process easier. ezfilter is used when updating existing AIX installations. The EZ utilities run on a standalone AIX 1.2.1 system; TCF is not supported. This package will only work when the target machine is physically identical to the master machine or is a superset of it. ezfilter is a script used to select desired FSUs (Field Serviceable Units) from the standard IBM provided PTF diskette sets. ezfilter is run on the master machine and is used as a means to create media for updating specifically selected FSUs on target machines. The chosen FSUs, possibly from both sets of PTF diskettes, are combined onto one media (e.g. diskette, tape), and, in turn, this newly created media is used by ezupdate to update a target machine. ezfilter must be run as super user. When ezfilter is executed, the following screens/displays will be seen: 1. If the input media has not been inserted in the proper device, a prompt for the input media will be displayed. Insert the input media into the proper device. Processed December 10, 1991 EZFILTER(8,C) 1 EZFILTER(8,C) AIX Commands Reference EZFILTER(8,C) 2. Messages indicating the gathering of control information are shown. 3. If no FSUs were specified on the command line, a menu containing a listing of the FSUs available is displayed. The FSUs will be specified by a short name and a description (e.g. extp Extended Users Support). This menu list will vary with the contents of the diskettes or tape being used for input. When the prompt Enter elements ( for all elements): is shown, enter the names of those FSUs to be put on the customized update media, and press Enter. These names should be separated by white space. 4. A series of informational messages telling ezfilter's progress will be displayed. 5. If the output media has not been inserted in the proper device, a prompt for the output media will be displayed. Insert the output media into the proper device. 6. When the "Done" message is shown, execution of ezfilter has completed. ezfilter may be run multiple times to consolidate various FSUs from an update media set. It must be run at least once for every update media set that contributes FSUs to the update image used by ezupdate. Each time ezfilter is run the FSUs selected are added to those already present in the storage directory. FSUs can not be deleted from this directory. If a FSU is erroneously chosen, the storage directory must be deleted and ezfilter must be re-executed. Should an FSU be selected multiple times, it will only be copied to the storage directory one time. Once a selected FSU is in the storage directory, it will not be overwritten. Subsequent selections of this FSU will be ignored. The media produced by ezfilter is intended to be used with ezupdate for updating target machines and is also compatible with updatep. FLAGS -d input_device expects an argument specifying the device from which the update material will be taken. -s storage_directory expects an argument specifying a directory where the FSUs being extracted can be stored prior to being output. If there is not enough space in the specified directory, ezfilter will display a warning message. Processed December 10, 1991 EZFILTER(8,C) 2 EZFILTER(8,C) AIX Commands Reference EZFILTER(8,C) -o output_device expects an argument specifying the desired output device. '+' is used to specify no output. '-' is used to send the output to stdout. An optional list of FSUs to include on the customized update media may be specified at the end of the command line. If this list is not included, a menu showing the possible FSUs to choose will be displayed during execution. EXAMPLES To create a tape of selected FSUs from diskette: ezfilter -d/dev/fd0 -s/local/updates -o/dev/st0 This command uses the /dev/fd0 device for input, stores the FSUs being extracted in the /local/updates directory, and outputs the contents of the /local/updates directory to the /dev/st0 device (Internal Tape Backup Unit). Specification of the FSUs being extracted occurs during ezfilter execution, when the FSU listing menu is displayed. RELATED INFORMATION See "ezupdate", "updatep". Processed December 10, 1991 EZFILTER(8,C) 3